A child, who was refused to get released by private-run orphanage Gentle Hands Inc. (GHI), has reunited with her biological mother, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Friday.

In a statement, DSWD said its National Capital Region Field Office released a Parental Capability Assessment Report (PCAR) to help Melanie Marzan, a single mother, in gaining custody of her two-year-old son after over four months of separation.

According to DSWD, Marzan placed her son in the childcare facility of GHI in Quezon City last January for temporary custody while she was pregnant with her third child.

In February, she visited her son but was only given 10 minutes to do so.

After giving birth in April, Marzon then sought to get her son back. However, GHI executive director Charity Graff reportedly refused to release him.

“The DSWD-NCR sent a letter to GHI addressed to Ms. Graff dated March 28, 2023 seeking clarification on the matter but the letter was ignored by the GHI’s executive director,” the social welfare department said.

DSWD spokesperson Rommel Lopez pointed out that GHI has no right to refuse Marzan’s plea given that no court order declared that she was unfit as a parent.

Baby Marzan was among the 140 children who were taken from the GHI after the department issued a cease and desist order against the orphanage last Monday, May 22.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that the order was issued due to GHI’s poor living standards, overpopulation, the absence of social workers, and fire safety risks.

The DSWD is now looking at three or more cases similar to Marzan’s situation.